Interview: Chris Jarosz, Dancer

Christopher Jarosz is originally from Gaithersberg, Maryland, but after his freshman year in high school, he and his family moved to Dallas. This was where Chris officially started his technical training in dance and began to start exploring choreography. During his sophomore year in college, he auditioned for the prestigious Southern Methodist University dance program and got accepted with an almost half tuition dance scholarship. At SMU, Chris' main concentrations of dance were ballet, modern and jazz. While at SMU, he performed works by Twyla Tharp, Alvin Ailey, William Forsythe, Paul Taylor and many others. His choreography was accepted into many of the student choreography shows and was also featured in best of student choreography performances. After his second year at Southern Methodist University Chris decided to audition for the hit reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”. He made it to the top 20 of Season 4 and made it through three weeks until he was eliminated. He had the honor of working with Mia Micheals, Tyce Diorio, Wade Robson, and Shane Sparks. After the show, Chris decided to go back to college, where he graduated with a BFA in dance. Immediately after graduation, he booked a job with Cirque Du Soleil. He started the creation of a new show called Viva Elvis and has been performing in the show ever since. So far he has been chosen by Cirque Du Soleil to represent Viva Elvis on many television shows such as “So You Think You Can” Dance,” “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Bachelor”. He is so thankful for where his career has gone and cannot wait to see where dance and performing will take him.

THE DAP:

What made you gravitate towards dance? 

CHRIS JAROSZ:

My parents always said whenever I heard music as a young kid I would just start moving around and pretend to tap dance. When I was 4 my mom put me in my first ever dance class and from then on I grew more and more attached to dance. After high school my passion for dance went to another level and that's when I knew I wanted to make a career out of this.

THE DAP:

 What is your favorite style of dance and why?

CHRIS JAROSZ:

I really do like all styles of dance but if I had to choose my favorite, it would have to be contemporary. Contemporary can be a mixture of all the different styles of dance and that's what I love about it. When I choreograph I try and incorporate lyrical, jazz, ballet and even a little funk/ hip hop to my movement. I grew up studying tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical contemporary, modern and Hip hop so it really is hard to choose one as my favorite, but I think my specialty would have to be Contemporary.

Chris's 2009 Dance Reel

THE DAP:

Have there been any dancers or choreographers that have inspired you?

CHRIS JAROSZ:

Definitely! I am inspired everyday by the dancers I work with. Working with Cirque Du Soleil, I get to meet so many different dancers from all different backgrounds. I learn something different every day, and it really has helped and inspired my own dancing.

THE DAP:

How was your experience on So You Think You Can Dance? Do you think it's helped your career?

CHRIS JAROSZ:

My experience on So You Think You Can Dance was something I will never forget and am so grateful for. To be a part of the top 20 on season 4 was such an honor and a huge surprise. Working with all the different choreographers and learning so much about Television and what goes on behind the scenes was really amazing.

I do think that being on SYTYCD has helped me with my career. Just a couple of months after appearing on the show, I booked a job with Cirque Du Soleil. Also, since the show I have been given the opportunity to teach all around the United States and in Canada. Just in general, the show gave me the opportunity to get my face out in the dance community and make all different kinds of connections that may have been hard to do without being a contestant on the show.

Chris dancing a jive in the Top 20 episode of Season 4 of "So You Think You Can Dance."

THE DAP:

While dance isn't at the forefront of Hollywood quite in the way it was during the days of Fred Astaire, there seems to be a revival what with the Step Up movies, TV dance competitions, Glee, and dance companies such as Jon Chu's AC/DC and the LXD. Do you think there's any particular reason why dance has returned to TV and movies?

CHRIS JAROSZ:

I totally agree with you that dance is making a big come back in the television/movie world. I think So You Think You Can Dance had a huge effect on the boost of dance being more popular in Hollywood. SYTYCD brought dance back to television and made it cool again. From there we saw dance more and more on TV/movies and even in theatrical shows. Now there is even a National Dance day. Dance is something that can be special and personal to everybody, and it’s hard not to feel exciting energy when you see someone dance or even while you dance. Dance is contagious and so fulfilling, and I think more and more people are starting to let dance be a part of their lives.

THE DAP:

 You're dancing with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. How is that experience? Were there any crazy stunts you had to perform?

CHRIS JAROSZ:

It has been such an amazing experience. Definitely the most challenging job/thing I have ever done in my entire life. I have been with Viva Elvis since creation, so to create a show, especially a Cirque show, it's going to have its hardships. The show is constantly changing and for all of the performers it means constantly coming in early in the day for rehearsals and then performing 2 shows every night, 5 nights a week. Definitely not easy, but so worth the blood, sweat and tears we have all put in to this show. One of my favorite parts of working for Cirque is that you get to work with and meet people from all different backgrounds and from all around the world. It’s really cool when you are in the training room or in a rehearsal and you hear people conversing in so many different languages.

   I personally have not done any crazy stunts in the show. Cirque hires the best in the world Olympic acrobats to do all of the "crazy" acts. A perk about being a part of Cirque is that sometimes I get to be on stage while these crazy stunts are being performed. For example, during our chair stacking act, I get to hand up some of the chairs during the performance while the chair balancer performs unbelievable stunts on the chairs.

Chris dancing for Cirque Du Soleil on Dancing with the Stars.

THE DAP:

Was the Las Vegas audience different from audiences you've performed in front of before? How?

CHRIS JAROSZ:

 I would not say that the Las Vegas audience in particular is super different from other audiences I have performed for. It’s more that since Cirque is my first real big time professional job, it's a different experience performing in front of people that have come from all around the world and paid a lot of money to see your performance. I feel like it's very similar to an audience that you would find watching a Broadway show. This is just my first time performing for people on this kind of level besides SYTYCD, but that was television rather than theater.

THE DAP:

What's next in your career?

CHRIS JAROSZ:

My contract with Cirque ends in December and after that I'm making the big move to LA. I really want to get into acting and more of the television and movie side of the entertainment industry.

THE DAP:

What advice would you give aspiring dancers?

CHRIS JAROSZ:

I would tell other aspiring dancers to just never give up on their dreams. It’s a tough, cut-throat world out there and you have to be mentally and physically prepared for the challenges that you will face trying to make it in the entertainment industry. Stay focused and constantly figure out ways to learn and grow as an artist.

 

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